Merlin

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Have you ever been sitting on your deck or walking in the woods and hear a bird singing its heart out and have no idea what kind of bird is serenading you?  It happens to me all the time.  Then I found the Merlin app and pure magic entered my life – abracadabra!

Merlin Bird ID is a nature app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Study of Birds so you know for a future Jeopardy game.) It is free and once you start using it, you will use it every day or at least I have. All you do is open the app and tap the green sound button. The app then begins to record the bird sounds that you are hearing and some you do not hear.  As different birds sings, they are identified, and a little picture appears of the bird. Each time that bird sings the bird’s name is highlighted in yellow. If you touch the bird picture, a small paragraph appears with info about the bird. You can also play the bird song of a particular bird and learn to identify the bird yourself. I didn’t realize that I was surrounded by birds. I don’t see them, but they are there.  So far this summer, the app has identified 20ish species. 

Cornell Lab has a wealth of information about birds at their website cornellbirds@cornell.edu.  They offer great classes such as The Wonderful World of Hummingbirds to art classes to everything you ever wanted to know about birding – all at reasonable fees.  They have bird cams to view baby birds hatch and grow up.  There are bird counts that you can participate in with people from all over the country and the world.  I am always finding one more bit of information on everything bird, science, and conservation on the site.

If you join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, you will receive their eBulletin and their wonderful bi-annual magazine, Living Bird which has exquisite photographs and excellent articles on birds.  Supporter level is $39.00, and a family subscription is $60.00.  It provides a lot of bang for the buck. 

Nature gives us so many gifts, and the choir of our feather friends is so often taken for granted in our daily lives.  If you stop and take a moment, you can hear their greatest hits and feel the magic!  

Mary Ann

Organizing Holiday Décor

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

Cynthia

I love holidays! In fact, holidays are so fun that I create them, at times. Upon entering my home, one will find a small entry space that opens directly into my “front room” and dining room. My table is always set, inviting guests to join me for a meal or even just a snack, among timely décor each month.  Or they can simply delight in the décor as they pass into my home. This month, of course, is Patriotic. Red, white, and blue adorn the tablescape and spill over into the family room and kitchen.

My granddaughter, who just graduated from college, enjoys the holiday decorating. Each time I pull out another tub of goodies, she says, “Dibs on that one!”  I have collected so much décor over the years that I had to find a way to store it and to prepare for her to take it at some point in the future.

First, I ensure all related items are stored together.  For some themes I have only one box; other themes require more.  Christmas, for example, takes up almost an entire wall of shelves, since we put a theme-related tree in every room. St. Patrick’s Day only needs one tub, although admittedly it is stuffed full!

Next, each box (really, they are plastic tubs) is labeled with my own inventory-type codes. All the tubs are on shelves with the 72-point typeface facing out. Using consistent codes, it is easy to spot which tub I want to pull off the shelves.  Speaking of shelves, my two-car garage is lined with commercial grade shelves on all three walls. The sturdy shelving is safe and has four layers. If I need something out of one box, I no longer must move several tubs to get to the right one.

Finally, the content list of each box is typed and stored in a file folder on my computer.  I can look up the contents of any box quickly.  The plus is, when it is time to put things away, I can look at the list and see what goes into each tub. No guesswork and no re-inventorying.

Obviously, setting all this up took some time. But the time was well spent. Now I save time while getting out and putting away décor, making holiday decorating quick so we can just enjoy the look.

The big bonus of organizing the décor and having an inventory is more than just saving time. I have a list for insurance should I lose my treasures in a fire or other catastrophe. And remember dostadning? When it comes time for my daughter and grandchildren to have to deal with my “valuables” they can easily decide what to keep and what to sell or donate, without looking through all the “stuff.”

For now and later, organizing holiday décor is a great gift to give yourself and your loved ones.

Proud to be an American

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Fourth of July. Independence Day. Whatever you call it, today is a day to celebrate America.  Although the forefathers declared independence on July 2nd, the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.  Or so the story goes.

For Americans, the national holiday occurs as the temperatures are warming  … or should I say, heating up. The day is filled with parades, cookouts, and fireworks viewed with family and friends.   Children drip popsicles on their sneakers and dads smear barbeque sauce on sizzling meats.

It is a day to honor our country with its official colors – Red, White, and Blue.

“The Star Spangled Banner”, “Proud to be an American”, “Stars and Stripes Forever”, and countless other patriotic songs fill the air. People are friendlier as if celebrating Christmas in July.

For me, it is a day … or a week … to remember my sweet brother who was a proud American. Having served in the Army when the military still had a draft, my brother was always patriotic. Maybe it was fitting that he was passing during last year’s celebration. At 74 his body finally gave out the morning after.

I remember just days before hospice brought a hospital bed for his last days on earth, how important it was to him to ensure a fresh, untattered flag was flying in front of his home. As he struggled to changed out flags and attach the new one to the pole, I ran to the garage in an effort to find better string. I found fishing wire, which worked perfectly.  Once secured, he put the flag pole over his shoulder, stepped up to his walker, and shuffled across the long porch. He struggled to maneuver down three steps making his way to the driveway and the location of the bracket.

He wanted to hang the flag himself. When it didn’t sit quite right, I asked if I could help him lift the pole to the next level of the bracket.  Seated properly, he stared reverently at Old Glory – the Red and White stripes and the White stars on the blue background waving in the breeze, a nod to his love for his Country. Then he turned and made his way back up the steps, across the porch, and into the house, where he immediately sat down and repositioned the oxygen feed to his face. The struggle was real.

At that time, and now – a year later, I am reminded how freedom is not free. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have made the ultimate mental and physical sacrifices for us to be able to celebrate this day. My wish for today is that each person who lives on American soil will take at least a brief moment to reflect. Sure, America has challenges. Yet, we are still lucky to live in this country. To enjoy freedom and independence. Yes, I am proud to be an American. Happy 4th!

Cynthia

Reiki Healing

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing, according to William Lee Rand in his book Reiki: The Healing Touch. It is primarily a hands-on transfer of energy from an attuned individual to another person, animal, or object. Reiki has become more popular in the West over the past few decades.

All my life I have had an interest in what some would term the esoteric. As a young person I understood the colors of energy and the importance of putting positivity into a room. I was uncomfortable in crowds as the energy from many different people was overwhelming. Of course I was much older and had studied a lot before I really began to understand what I was feeling.

I met a lovely woman who shared with me she was an alcoholic. She said she frequently heard voices and drank to numb her mind and make the voices cease. Eventually, she learned to accept she had a gift and began to embrace the voices. She stopped drinking.  While my experiences were different, sharing this information helped me accept my own level of understanding.  I knew when the time was right, an answer would appear.

When I first learned about Reiki, I could not pinpoint. Yet I do know that two different opportunities arose for me to become familiar with the protocols.  I worked my way through the first and second degrees of Reiki and then was invited to be attuned at both the third degree and the “master” degree, which allowed me then to pass on the tradition.

An acquaintance, many years ago, rejected me because of my use of Reiki, saying it was sacrilegious.  She professed to be a Christian, yet I found her to be quite judgmental without attempting to understand my perspective or to recognizing the many references to people as healers in the Bible. Reiki is not a religion. It is, however, a way of life for those who practice seriously.

For the most part, I use Reiki as a guidepost to daily living.  Dr. Mikao Usui Reiki ideals are a guidepost for living positively. I begin each day citing aloud a translated and abbreviated version. This prayer gives me peace and wellness throughout the day.

Just for today, I will let go of worry.

Just for today, I will let go of anger.

Today, I will count my many blessings.

Today, I will work hard on my spirituality.

Today, I will be kind to all living things.

~Cynthia

Locking Credit Accounts

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

Cynthia

Malicious access to personal data seems to flow in waves.  Recently we have seen yet another series of hacking (or more accurately named cracking) events. Unfortunately, unauthorized access is one of the challenges of our Internet-based society.  Most people are concerned about this type of activity when personal data is acquired.

Every element of information about ourselves and our lives is “out there” – and once posted your personal story will be on a server in perpetuity. The only safe electronic data, is stored on a computer that is turned off, unplugged, and disconnected from the Internet. The reality is that unauthorized access is a fact of digital life.

Some of the major financial institutions have recently experienced cyber attacks. Not long ago, TIAA, a major retirement fund, was hacked, as have some credit reporting agencies. What is an individual to do?

While we cannot prevent hacking, we can take precautionary steps to safeguard our data.  For example, using anti-virus software on our computers and phones; ensuring we don’t click on any links we are not familiar with; never giving out personal information on the telephone, text messages, or email; and keep personal information only in trusted sites.

Financially, we can lock our credit accounts so that new accounts cannot be opened in our name with our identifying information, such as social security number, birthdate, address, and credit card or bank account numbers.  Locking accounts is easy.

An individual can lock his/her account at no charge but may need to create an access account.  This is different from a credit protection account which will cost a monthly fee. Credit protection accounts are beyond the scope of this post but may also be helpful. Credit protection accounts are available from several companies, in addition to the credit reporting agencies.

To lock your credit account, go to each of the three major credit reporting agencies websites. These agencies are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

From the Experian home page (Experian.com) scroll to Freeze or Unfreeze your Experian Credit File. You will need to “Create a free account.”

On the Transunion home page (https://transunion.com) scroll to click on Credit Freeze & Unfreeze, Get Started, then Add a Freeze.

On the Equifax site (https://equifax.com) scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on Place or Manage a Freeze, and click on Place a Security Freeze.

From there on each of the sites, follow the prompts. You may have to create an account on each, but you do not have to sign up for their security service.  You must freeze your account with each of the reporting agencies. Freezing your account on one site does not freeze your account on the others. Remember, also, that if you do freeze your account, no one can open new accounts with your PID (personal identifying data). To open a new bank account, credit card, or other credit account, you will need to unlock or unfreeze your accounts with the credit reporting agency your intended business uses.

All this sounds much more difficult than it is. You are just a few clicks away from protecting your data.

6-5-4-3-2-1 Grocery Shopping Tip

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

Cynthia

Tik Tok is a platform for individuals and small groups to share expertise, experiences, and ideas in video form. People present challenges and those that catch on have a lot of activity – others commenting, trying the idea, or creating a similar but modified approach to the original post.

One such suggestion was by Chef Will Coleman. Chef Coleman presented a grocery shopping design in order to shop with intention. He believes subscribers will save money. He calls it the 6-5-4-3-2-1 method.  Using this approach, a shopper will purchase 6 vegetables, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 carbs/starches, 2 sauces, and 1 item for oneself.

This is a clever idea and people on Tik Tok have embraced the challenge. Chef Coleman does not mention the excellent nutritional value to this approach but focusing on vegetables and fruits above protein is a healthy way to eat. In addition, people have become adept at discerning vegetables and fruits.

For example, some people are including peppers, eggplant, olives, squash, avocado, cucumber, beans and some nuts in the fruit category, as technically a fruit is an edible plant with seeds. Starches is another category that lends itself to interpretation and might include potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, and cereal.  In the protein category some are going for nuts and tofu in addition to or instead of poultry, beef, pork, and fish. When one thinks of food in this way, the variety is wide and the options endless.

Sauces could be prepared mayonnaise, catsup, or mustard or something more exciting such as a teriyaki sauce or pizza sauce. As for the 1 item for oneself, some people buy frozen pot stickers, ice cream, or supplement with additional pantry items. Possible combinations are up to an individual’s imagination.

The idea of the 6-5-4-3-2-1 method is admirable. However, to be useful and actually help save money, one must still shop judiciously. More importantly, one must have time and the creativity to cook. I have found the more I have cooked over the years, the more able I am to make a nice meal from ingredients I have on hand. But young professionals with budding careers and/or a small family may have more of a challenge.

For some, preparing a menu for the week and listing grocery items needed for that menu may ultimately save more money.  Individuals need to think through the options Chef Coleman presents. Maybe his method combined with a predetermined menu will help meal planning, meal preparation, and enjoying dinner time without overspending on groceries.

More Than a Gold Watch

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

 Mary Ann

When people used to retire, they were given a gold watch for their many years of service to their place of employment.  Many people today don’t even wear a watch anymore.  They use their phones to tell time.  In the end, a watch is not really a very good way to celebrate someone’s life’s work.  So, what is? 

We live longer now so retirement can go on for a very long time.  People see retirement as another chapter in their lives rather than an end.  What would be a better gift than a gold watch? We want to wish the retiree good health, wealth, and happiness. Now, how do you do that exactly?

My friend, Lisa, and I started a nonfiction book club when Covid started, and we explored a variety of subjects over the next four years.  We talk every Saturday about the reading assignments.  We have read over 60 books and have gained so much insight and knowledge from them.  From our reading, we have found books that focused on health, wealth, and happiness, and the following books are our all-star favorites that will give any retiree many nuggets of wisdom for their golden years.

Health – AARP has an excellent book on health called The Whole Body Reset by Stephen Perrine.  It is about living a healthy life rather than just a diet.  It is simple and a good guide to eating better in your senior years.  

Wealth – Jane Bryant Quinn’s How to Make Your Money Last, the Indispensable Retirement Guide is the bible for financial planning both before and after retirement.  Quinn has authored several books on finance and is an expert in her field.  My book is dogeared and underlined throughout.  It is a book that I constantly refer to for financial advice. I have gifted this book to both the young and old over the years, and it is always appreciated.  

Happiness – Julia Cameron is a writer who focuses on creativity. She is most famous for The Artist’s Way.  However, she has written a book for those who are retiring and how to live a more creative, fulfilling life.  It is Never too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond. This a book that can help a retiree to gain meaning for a happier life in retirement.

These books are so helpful, useful, and good reads.   All you need now is to wrap them up and give them to the retirees in your life.  I would tell them that each book represents good wishes for health, wealth, and happiness.  I put tags on each wrapped book explaining just that. These books are worth more in gold than any watch could ever be.  They would be a good gift to give yourself, and don’t we all want to live a life of better health, more secure wealth, and new opportunities of happiness in our own golden years. 

Recipes

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Cynthia

A friend sent me the most delightful recipe.  It was an easy but elegant appetizer designed for the winter holiday season but could easily be offered all year around. I was struck by not only the fact that she would take the time to mail something to me, but that she was aware of my delight in cooking.

This gesture reminded me of my early-married days. People would start chain letters with various reasons to participate. One such chain was the Recipe Share. I received a recipe in the mail, along with the letter that encouraged me to send one of my favorite recipes to the top five people on the list. I was to add my name to the bottom of the list, and if memory serves me, to send the “new” letter to five or ten of my friends. The idea was that eventually I would receive hundreds of recipes from people I may or may not know. The idea was fun. Yet, I never received additional recipes.

Those days of sharing recipes, clipping coupons, and taking cookies to the park to share with children of other mothers who were needing adult companionship have long since gone. Women entered the workforce, eliminating the ability to have “friend time” during the day. Fewer people cooked at home. Children attended day care or joined after school programs. Email replaced letters and cards.

Yet, now in my retirement, I find I delight in receiving a recipe in the mail. And I have time to whip it up and share with a friend. After all these years, women still enjoy sharing their love through their recipes.

Building Bones

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

Just before retiring I decided I needed to have some baseline medical stats. Prior to that time I didn’t bother to go for an annual physical. For the most part, I am a very healthy 70-year-old. I rarely become ill with even a cold although I do suffer with allergies in the Spring. So one may imagine my surprise when I learned I have osteoporosis.

When my doctor recommended Fosamax I read about the side effects. To my dismay I learned that one of the side effects was bone loss in one’s jaw. In order to have dental work, you are supposed to quit taking the medication for a time period. Additionally, calcium and vitamin D supplements are recommended with the medication as long-term studies showed a 2% decrease in calcium in the first month.  Several more minor side effects are listed. I understand there is a risk in taking any medication. Being one of those people who shies away from pharmaceuticals, I began looking for alternative solutions.

My medical massage therapist recommended OsteoStrong. I gave it a try and love it! Focusing on the skeletal system, OsteoStrong uses four machines, each targeting a different area of the skeletal system.  A trainer works with each client to reach a target “weight” or pressure based on one’s personal needs. This wellness system is designed to improve bone density, balance, and overall strength.

Each week I attempt to beat my own record.  A graph is displayed while using each machine. The graph shows previous work, target goal, and peak.  I find it quite motivating to watch the graph climb as I push to do better each time. Some weeks are not as good, but that’s okay. And the trainer is super supportive and encouraging.  Not being big on exercise, I find this easy-to-use system to be a great option for me.

OsteoStrong centers are licensed to individuals in service areas and can be found around the world. Fans of Tony Robbins will learn that he and his wife are said to use the system.  The cost is comparable to many exercise facilities, but I recently learned that the Renew Active program that comes with some medical insurance includes OsteoStrong. I am looking forward to my one-year marker when I will take another Dexa scan to see if my bone density has improved. For now, I will continue to challenge myself and attend my OsteoStrong session each week.

Changing Insurance Companies

by Cynthia, posted in Uncategorized

Have you noticed the premiums for homeowner’s and automobile insurance continue to rise? The cost seemingly has become outrageous! As retirees with a fixed income and no opportunity to make extra on the side, something had to change! When one’s homeowner’s insurance premiums exceed a mortgage payment, one knows something is not right.

Beginning two or three months before the current policy is to expire will save some hassle in the long run. It was disappointing to learn that my current insurance company was unable to quote me a lower premium without significantly changing the coverage. Additionally, I was surprised to learn how long and how much effort it took to change companies. Even though I began early, everything was finalized just before my current policy was to expire.

My process was this. I went online to request quotes. I was surprised by the few responses I received. In my “research” I discovered one needs to be mindful of the sites you are using to request quotes. The safest choice is to go to actual insurance companies’ sites; not a generic “we will find you multiple quotes” sites, which often are scams.

Exploring options with the companies that responded, I was thrilled to learn my premium would be considerably less than what I was currently paying. Bundling homeowner’s with automobile and personal liability insurance saves money, also.

Importantly, I did my homework before making a final decision. The reviews on the new company were very positive, including a high rating with J.D. Powers.

I did learn from this experience, that even though it is not time to renew, one can still change companies. Once your new insurance is finalized and in place, remember to cancel the old. They are required to refund any prepaid yet unused premiums.

I am relieved to have this activity behind me … at least for another year. Staying on top of each and all expenditures helps a retired woman sleep better at night.